INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee (PAC) released the following statement following Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Gregg’s comments in support of Planned Parenthood. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette published Gregg’s comments on Aug. 11.

“Democrat John Gregg claims to be pro-life, but he is just another Planned Parenthood and abortion industry ally,” said Mike Fichter, Chairman of the Indiana Right to Life PAC. “In Gregg’s comments to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, he indicates that he wouldn’t have bothered to investigate the serious allegations of baby parts harvesting and trafficking at Planned Parenthood facilities. Furthermore, he believes this is a ‘federal issue,’ which causes the pro-life community great concern. In a Gregg administration, would all inspections of state abortion facilities simply fall under federal jurisdiction? If so, abortion facilities would be left to self-govern, and we know how that story ends for women’s health and safety.

“Perhaps it’s so easy for Gregg to parrot Planned Parenthood’s talking points in response to the baby harvesting videos, because he admits he hasn’t bothered to even watch the videos. He is welcome to watch any of the short versions, averaging 10 minutes, or he can watch the full, unedited versions. A man running for governor of Indiana, who feigns support for the unborn, should at least be able to face the content of the Planned Parenthood videos.

“Gregg believes Planned Parenthood is worthy of taxpayer dollars. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in Indiana. Last year, Planned Parenthood ended the heartbeats of 4,930 unborn children. This means they did more than 60 percent of all abortions in the state. A business that profits off a woman in her time of need, by killing her unborn child, does not deserve a cent of taxpayer funding.”

Indiana Right to Life PAC works to elect pro-life candidates to public office for the purpose of enacting public policy that protects the right to life of all persons, including the unborn. Indiana Right to Life PAC believes that the issue of life is paramount to all other issues because without the right to life, all other freedoms are without meaning.

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INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Gov. Mike Pence held a signing ceremony for the aborted fetal remains and prenatal diagnosis information bills. Pence was surrounded by legislators, Hoosiers who testified on the bill and members of the pro-life community.

The aborted fetal remains bill (SEA 329), establishes rules as to how abortion facilities must dispose of aborted babies and allows the pregnant woman to choose a different method at her own expense (i.e. burial). As testimony revealed the Indianapolis Planned Parenthood facility was disposing of aborted babies down a drain into the sewer system, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) implemented emergency disposal rules on July 1. The legislation was authored by Sen. Liz Brown (District 15) and sponsored by Rep. Chris Judy (District 83).

The prenatal diagnosis information bill (HEA 1093) directs the ISDH to provide health care providers and parents with positive information regarding Down syndrome and other prenatal diagnoses. The information will provide parents with adequate medical information and information about support organizations. Several parents who testified in favor of this bill shared that the medical community often insists on abortion when there is a negative prenatal diagnosis. The legislation was authored by Rep. Ron Bacon (District 75) and sponsored by Sen. Ron Grooms (District 46).

“We’re thankful for Gov. Pence’s commitment to the pro-life cause and for the legislators who boldly passed these bills,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “The aborted remains bill is especially timely, as Americans pause to consider what becomes of the tiny lives ended in abortion procedures. We believe the aborted remains bill provides dignity to the babies, their mothers and the abortion facility staff.

“The positive prenatal diagnosis information bill ensures parents are empowered with medically-sound and helpful information when they receive a heartbreaking diagnosis of their unborn child. Tragically, up to 90 percent of unborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. We believe this information will let parents know they have options other than the decision to end their unborn child’s life.”

Both bills passed with bipartisan support.

Signing prenatal information bill

Signing aborted fetal remains bill

Indiana Right to Life’s mission is to protect the right to life, especially of unborn children, through positive education, compassionate advocacy and promotion of healthy alternatives to abortion.

“I have long believed that a society will ultimately be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. Your concern regarding the disturbing allegations made against Planned Parenthood and your commitment to upholding the laws of this state are a reflection of this noble principle. You may be assured that every relevant agency within our administration will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that Indiana’s statutes pertaining to the sanctity and dignity of human life are strictly enforced.”

Gov. Pence’s administration has been rigorous in their attention to upholding Indiana abortion laws. Thanks for their attention to following abortion facility inspection schedules and offering transparency, Indiana’s abortion industry knows it must follow the law or face consequences.

Thank you, Gov. Pence, for protecting the weakest among us.

-Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life

August 5, 2015

Dear Legislator,

Thank you for your recent correspondence concerning our efforts to ensure that Planned Parenthood of Indiana was upholding all laws regarding the disposition of fetal remains. Given the appalling remarks that were made by senior medical officials employed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the barbaric acts that have been depicted in numerous undercover videos, I felt it was imperative for us to take decisive action and ensure that the selling of fetal body parts discussed in those videos was not taking place in the State of Indiana.

As you are aware, Indiana has some of the strongest pro-life laws in the country, including those dealing with the disposal of fetal remains. I’m grateful for your recent support of SEA 329, which further bolstered Indiana’s commitment to the sanctity of every human life. It was within Indiana’s strong fabric of pro-life protections that the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) moved swiftly to investigate the allegations against Planned Parenthood of Indiana.

On July 21, 2015, the ISDH conducted unannounced, simultaneous investigations at all three surgical abortion clinics operated in Indiana by Planned Parenthood. While other states have simply submitted written questions and requests for information, our investigation included rigorous onsite reviews of patient medical records, clinic policies and procedures, and facility administration documents, as well as personnel interviews and clinic observation.

At the conclusion of this thorough investigation, the ISDH did not find evidence to substantiate that illegal activities described in the videos were taking place at any of the three Indiana-based surgical abortion clinics operated by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky. For additional information regarding the investigation please contact the ISDH.

Along with many of you, I will continue to support efforts in Congress to investigate the allegations made in these recent videos and to defund Planned Parenthood. I have long believed that the largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X. Congress should instead redirect those funds to valuable women’s healthcare providers, such as Indiana’s numerous Federally Qualified Health Centers, that do not perform abortions or support the abortion industry.

I have long believed that a society will ultimately be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. Your concern regarding the disturbing allegations made against Planned Parenthood and your commitment to upholding the laws of this state are a reflection of this noble principle. You may be assured that every relevant agency within our administration will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that Indiana’s statutes pertaining to the sanctity and dignity of human life are strictly enforced.

Thank you for your continued service to the people of Indiana. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if we may be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Pence

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Legislation Would Have Redirected $500 Million Annually from Planned Parenthood to Other Health Providers

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Dan Coats and Sen. Joe Donnelly voted to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, of more than $500 million in annual taxpayer funds. The legislation would have redirected the funds to thousands of federally qualified health centers nationwide that provide women’s health services and do not perform abortions. The legislation failed 53-46, largely along party lines.

“We are pleased Senators Coats and Donnelly recognized the need to end federal funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood,” said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life. “Hoosiers have long been concerned about their tax dollars going to an organization that dismembers hundreds of thousands of American children each year. We extend our thanks to both of our senators, and especially to Sen. Coats who was an original cosponsor on this legislation.

“Planned Parenthood may be celebrating this momentary victory tonight, but this fight is far from over. Americans are realizing the barbaric practices of Planned Parenthood and they will not stand for their tax dollars to continue flowing to this vile organization. We will keep educating Hoosiers about the true mission of Planned Parenthood and we will continue pressing for our officials to defund this abortion business.”

The vote to defund Planned Parenthood came before the U.S. Senate after undercover videos showed senior Planned Parenthood staff negotiating prices for intact fetal organs. The videos also showed officials explaining how abortion procedures can be altered in order to harvest the organs.

Senators Coats and Donnelly

Indiana Right to Life’s mission is to protect the right to life, especially of unborn children, through positive education, compassionate advocacy and promotion of healthy alternatives to abortion.